Kia Carnival and EV9 to launch in India on October 3

Key Highlights

• Kia Carnival will be a CBU import and cost more than Rs 50 lakh.
• The previous version of the MPV was discontinued due to failure to meet current emission norms.
• The EV9 will cost over Rs 1 crore.

Kia Carnival and EV9 have been confirmed to launch in India on October 3. Both the cars were unveiled globally last year. Upon launch, the Kia EV9 will become the automaker’s flagship EV in India. The Carnival MPV will occupy its own segment, having no direct rivals. Its previous version was discontinued in India last year due to failure to meet with the new emission norms.

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Kia Carnival and EV9: India launch confirmed

The Kia Carnival will likely be made available in two powertrain options. Powering the entry-level LX trim is a 3.5-litre V6 GDI petrol engine that produces a maximum power output of 287hp and 352Nm of torque. This engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The top-spec variants of the MPV are powered by a 1.5-litre turbo hybrid engine that produces a maximum power output of 242hp and 367Nm of torque. This engine is linked to a 54kWh battery and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Meanwhile, the international model of the Kia EV9 gets three powertrain options. The entry-level RWD model gets a 76.1kWh battery pack. This is followed by the 99.9kWh battery pack variant. The top-spec model gets AWD and two electric motors.

The Kia Carnival MPV will pack two 12.3-inch units –  a touchscreen infotainment system and a digital instrument cluster. This massive twin display extends to the centre of the dashboard and forms a part of the centre console. The top-spec variants will come with two 14.6-inch entertainment screens for the rear seats.

The EV9 will sport a triple display unit. Two 12.5-inch touchscreens are integrated with a 5-inch digital display. The dashboard sports an open floating panoramic design and spans the area from the steering wheel to the centre of the vehicle. The electric SUV gets three seating rows and two seating options. The middle row can be swivelled by 180 degrees to face the third row.

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Conclusion

The Kia Carnival MPV will be brought to India as a CBU (Completely Built Up) unit. It could fetch up to Rs 50 lakh. Meanwhile, the Kia EV9 is expected to cost more than Rs 1 crore. It will rival the BMW iX upon launch.